Hunters urged to be considerate, protect image

That's what the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources advises deer hunters who might be tempted to leave deer entrails on people's property or hang a carcass off a truck.

If you're transporting a harvested deer, just put a tarp on it.

"This is a simple, considerate step that may prevent a non-hunter from becoming an anti-hunter,” said Charles Ruth, a DNR project supervisor, in an agency release.

“Callers are usually pretty disgusted,” when they've called the agency after discovering entrails on their property, alongside roads or left next to dumpsters, said Ruth.

“Behavior by hunters, like improper disposal of deer remains, promotes the kind of negative image that anti-hunters use in their attempts to ban hunting,” he said. “Landowners who find a mess on their property may also have second thoughts about allowing access to hunters next season.”

Perhaps offering some relief to motorists, state regulations prohibit transporting a headless deer from the site of the kill.

So what to do with those unsavory parts?

According to the agency: Heads, hides and entrails should be buried at least 2 to 3 feet deep so dogs or other animals won’t unearth them and parade them around. Sometimes local landfills also accept carcasses.

Hunters should never toss deer remains into streams or other bodies of water. And they can't kill deer when the animals are enjoying water, either. It's illegal to hunt, shoot or in any way kill deer from a motorboat, raft or any water perch. The same goes for harassing the animal while any part of it is in water.

The local Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Conservation District office can advise hunters on how to construct a composter to recycle deer parts. Composting also yields fertilizer for the next year’s food plots.

To report violators call DNR’s Operation Game Thief at 1-800-922-5431. The 24-hour, toll-free number is printed on the back of hunting and fishing licenses.